DOCSLIB.ORG

Four Men and Their Reputations 3 John 1-14

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Four Men and Their Reputations 3 John 1-14 Four Men and Their Reputations 3 John 1-14 I. Gaius is a commendable Christian. 1-8 1. Live spiritually. 1-2 2. Walk truthfully. 3-4 3. Serve faithfully. 5-6 4. Minister generously. 7-8 II. Diotrephes is a conceited Christian. 9-10 1. Do not be driven by prideful ambition. 9 2. Do not display pompous arrogance. 9 3. Do not deliver perverse accusations. 10 4. Do not dominate with profane activity. 10 III. Demetrius is a consistent Christian. 11-12 1. Pursue a godly example. 11 2. Possess a good testimony. 12 IV. John is a caring Christian. 13-14 1. Desire the presence of fellow believers. 13 2. Desire peace for fellow believers. 14 FOUR MEN AND THEIR REPUTATIONS 3 JOHN 1-14 INTRODUCTION: 1. All of us share an invaluable possession. It goes with us wherever we go, but amazingly, it also goes where we do not go. Furthermore, what you think of this prized possession is not necessarily what others think of it. I speak of our reputation. Your reputation is the estimation or evaluation of your character, integrity, and standing as a person. It may be good or bad, positive or negative. But be assured of this: 1) We all have a reputation. 2) People will watch you and talk about you. Count on it! 3) You cannot escape or lose your reputation. It precedes you, goes with you and follows you all of your life and beyond. 2. Charles Spurgeon, the great British Baptist preacher in London, knew the importance of our reputation, especially for the Christian. “The eagle-eyed world acts as a policeman for the church… [it] becomes a watch-dog over the sheep, barking furiously as soon as one goes astray. Be careful, be careful of your private lives…and I believe your public lives will be sure to be right; but remember that it is upon your public life that the verdict of the world will very much depend.” 3. With that in mind let me raise 3 important questions for all of us to think about: 1) What do you think of yourself? 2) What do you believe others think about you? 3) What does God think about you? As you reflect upon these 3 questions I want us to examine the shortest book in the Bible, the letter of 3 John. Only 219 words, this postcard epistle has been too often neglected to the detriment of the church. Like 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon [and possibly 2 John], it is written to an individual, a man named Gaius. Written by John between AD 80 – 95, Eusebius, the ancient church historian, says it was penned after John was released from the rock quarry island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea. If this is correct, 3 John may have been the last book written in our new testament (Bible). Though Revelation certainly fits best as the finale of Holy Scripture. 4. The book is similar in length and style to its twin sister 2 John, and yet there are some important differences as well. • 3 John revolves around 4 key men and their reputation. 2 John mentions no one by name. In 2 John the problem was showing hospitality to the wrong visitors. In 3 John the problem is not showing hospitality to the right visitors. In 2 John the major concern was truth. In 3 John the major concern is love. 5. It is easy to outline the book biographically, around the 4 men of the letter. As we look at each one of them, continue to examine yourself and see if anyone here looks something like you. I. Gaius Is A Commendable Christian. V. 1-8 • This letter begins in the same way as 2 John, identifying the author as the elder (Presbuteros). The word originally meant an older man, but cam to convey ideas of respect, authenticity and integrity. An elder is a man of courage, commitment, and conviction. He is a man of authority rooted in his spiritual maturity. John was such a man and because he had a tender relationship with the elect lady (2 John) and Gaius (3 John) there was no need to assert his apostleship. • John commends Gaius in 4 areas of his life, areas in which we also should seek to excel. 1. Live Spiritually. V.1-2 • 4 times John will address Gaius, the recipient of this letter, as beloved (Agapeto) or dear friend (NIV). It expresses deep, heart-felt love for this man. John loved this man and he told him so. He also knew his spiritual life was in good health and he told him this too. • Gaius was a common name in that day and 3 men by that name appear in the New Testament: Gaius of Corinth (Rom. 16:23); Macedonia (Acts 19:29); and Derbe (Acts 20:4). Gaius of 3 John is probably none of those. All we know of this Gaius we learn from this short letter, and what we learn is outstanding. • John’s love for him is genuine; it is accompanied by truth (7X). There is nothing false or superficial here. The I is emphatic: Whom I myself love in truth. • John is praying (cont.) for Gaius to prosper (cont.) in all things {fronted for emp.] and be in health as his soul prospers. Prosper means to have a good journey. Health is Hygiainein (Hygiene). • Gaius had a clean bill of health spiritually. Perhaps he was suffering some physical difficulty but his soul was “ship shape,” in top condition. Application: What if I were to pray for you and ask God to bless you physically to the same degree you are healthy spiritually and he answered my prayer. What would happen?! Would you be fit, in bed, or nearly dead? Would we need to rush you to the emergency room of the hospital and have you ushered into the I.C.U. or C.C.U.? We must live spiritually. Gaius was “soul healthy.” The same is God’s expectation for us. 2. Walk Truthfully. V. 3-4 • Living spiritually is intimately connected to walking truthfully. John could rejoice greatly (v.3) and have no greater joy (v.4) because of what others were telling him about Gaius. ∗ Truth is in him (What he believed). ∗ He walks in truth (What he lived). In doctrine and deed, Gaius was commendable, praiseworthy, a joy. There Was no contradiction between his profession (talk) and practice (walk). • My children may indicate John had led Gaius to Christ. John was fathering spiritual children into the kingdom of God and Gaius was a child of his in whom he took great delight. The great Spurgeon knew the importance of this calling for every child of God, but especially those called to the ministry. You may view, dear friends, the text as specifying the pastor’s greatest reward. “I have no greater joy that to hear that my children walk in truth.” The minister who is sent of God has spiritual children, they are as much his children as if they had literally been born in his house, for to their immortal nature he stands under God in the relationship of sire. No minister ought to be at rest unless he sees that his ministry does bring forth fruit, and men and women are born unto God by the preaching of the word. To this end we are sent to you, not to help you to spend your Sundays respectably, nor to quiet your consciences by conducting worship on your behalf. No, sirs, ministers are sent into the world for a higher purpose, and if your souls are not saved, we have labored in vain as far as you are concerned. If in the hands of God we are not made the means of your new birth, our sermons and instructions have been a mere waste of effort, and your hearing has been a mere waste of time to you, if not something worse. To see children born unto God, that is the grand thing. Hence every preacher longs to be able to talk about his spiritual sons and daughters. • Oh but Spurgeon was not satisfied to challenge ministers only in light of this text. He also walked into the home, looked parents straight in the eyes, asking them, concerning their children, what really mattered to them? It is very grievous to see how some professedly Christian parents are satisfied so long as their children display cleverness in learning, or sharpness in business, although they show no signs of a renewed nature. If they pass their examinations and promise to be well fitted for the world’s battle, their parents forget that there is a superior conflict, involving a higher crown, for which the child will need to be fitted by divine grace, and armed with the whole armor of God. Many who ought to know better think themselves superlatively blessed in their children if they become rich, if they marry well, if they strike out into profitable enterprises in trade, or if they attain eminence in the profession which they have espoused. Their parents will go to their beds rejoicing, and awake perfectly satisfied, though their boys are hastening down to hell, if they are also making money by the bushel. They have no greater joy than that their children are having their portion in this life, and laying up treasure where rust corrupts it. Though neither their sons nor daughters show any signs of the new birth, give no evidence of being rich towards God, manifest no traces of electing love or redeeming grace, or the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, yet there are parents who are content with their condition.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 3 JOHN 9-12 the “CHURCH BOSS” “I Have Written Something to the Church, but Diotrephes, Who Likes to Put Himself First
    3 JOHN 9-12 THE “CHURCH BOSS” “I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. “Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. Demetrius has received a good testimony from everyone, and from the truth itself. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true.”1 ead for almost two millennia, Diotrephes nevertheless lives! He holds membership within many congregations, wreaking havoc within the vineyard of D the Lord, destroying the work of God and hindering the advance of the divine Kingdom. Who is Diotrephes? He (and just as often “she”) is the “church boss” who controls the life of the church. Though he would deny the charge, the church boss has displaced the Head of the Body. He is a usurper, a pretender to the throne of the assembly, who has shoved the Master to an inferior position so that he can reign. I have met Diotrephes, just as you have, if you have been among the churches of our Lord for any length of time. Diotrephes is easily identified because he has embraced reprehensible attitudes and performed detestable deeds that violate church polity. Above all else, he viewed membership in the church as one would treat membership in a civic club.
    [Show full text]
  • Angel Vision
    ANGEL VISION By Virgil Mochel Performance Rights It is an infringement of the federal copyright law to copy this script in any way or to perform this play without royalty payment. All rights are controlled by Eldridge Publishing Co. Inc. Contact the publisher for additional scripts and further licensing information. The author’s name must appear on all programs and advertising with the notice: “Produced by special arrangement with Eldridge Publishing Co.” ELDRIDGE PUBLISHING COMPANY www.95church.com © 1999 by Eldridge Publishing Download your complete script from Eldridge Publishing https://95church.com/angel-vision Angel Vision - 2 - DEDICATION To Dad, Mom, Mary Jane and Marian, who have provided unending inspiration, encouragement and love. The Playwright, Virgil Mochel STORY OF THE PLAY A group of young angels are singing their rousing “Angel Flight Song” as the play opens. Some of the angels have questioned the wisdom of making their announcement of Christ’s birth to some lowly shepherds rather than to somebody “important.” Through the miracle of “Angel Vision,” however, they are able to observe firsthand how four potentates, King Herod, the Roman Governor, a high priest, and a wealthy businessman, would react if their announcement were made to each of them. The angels gratefully announce Jesus’ birth to the shepherds as originally planned by God and take part in the other events of the Christmas story as it unfolds. Angel Vision - 3 - CAST OF CHARACTERS (Large, flexible cast. Doubling possible.) Scene1 and other scenes ANGELS (10 to 12 or more if space permits) EMILY GABRIEL Scene 2 Scene 5 HEROD RACHEL COURTIERS JOSHUA SERVANT MICAH LEVI SARAH NATHAN Scene 3 Scene 6 GAIUS THREE SHEPHERDS OCTAVIUS FLAVIUS JUSTIN Scene 4 Scene 7 ELI JOSEPH TWO SCRIBES MARY THREE WISE MEN PROPS Angels: Wings, halos.
    [Show full text]
  • Christians • 3 John 9–13
    ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) fai th matters ® fai th matters ® fai th matters ® fai th matters ® fai th matters ® Christians • 3 John 9–13 Do you think it is ever fair to compare one Chris- true. tian to another? Is it ever fair to say that one Christian I have much to write you, but I do not want is better or worse than other Christians? to do so with pen and ink. I hope to see you soon No doubt there’s a part of us that wants to shout and we will talk face to face. out, “Absolutely no!” After all, did not Jesus say, Peace to you. The friends here send their “Judge not, that you be not judged”? Does that then greetings. Greet the friends there by name. mean that is it not inappropriate that we ever judge The key verse and the central message is verse another Christian? 11. There it says, “do not imitate what is evil but what It does, however, raise for us the question of is good.” And then old John does a fascinating thing. whether we can ever say that a Christian is wrong. He gives the specific names of two individuals, and Because, if we were to, in any way, indict anyone for he contrasts them. He contrasts them specifically for any misbehavior or bad judgment or poor character, imitation purposes. So which one are we going to lis- would we not then be judging? ten to; which one are we going to follow? Well, let’s consider this. The quotation from Jesus, The first of the contrasts is a man named “Judge not”, has to be one of the most misunderstood Diotrephes.
    [Show full text]
  • Berean Digest Walking Thru the Bible Tavares D. Mathews
    Berean Digest Walking Thru the Bible Tavares D. Mathews Length of Time # Book Chapters Listening / Reading 1 Matthew 28 2 hours 20 minutes 2 Mark 16 1 hour 25 minutes 3 Luke 24 2 hours 25 minutes 4 John 21 1 hour 55 minutes 5 Acts 28 2 hours 15 minutes 6 Romans 16 1 hour 5 minutes 7 1 Corinthians 16 1 hour 8 2 Corinthians 13 40 minutes 9 Galatians 6 21 minutes 10 Ephesians 6 19 minutes 11 Philippians 4 14 minutes 12 Colossians 4 13 minutes 13 1 Thessalonians 5 12 minutes 14 2 Thessalonians 3 7 minutes 15 1 Timothy 6 16 minutes 16 2 Timothy 4 12 minutes 17 Titus 3 7 minutes 18 Philemon 1 3 minutes 19 Hebrews 13 45 minutes 20 James 5 16 minutes 21 1 Peter 5 16 minutes 22 2 Peter 3 11 minutes 23 1 John 5 16 minutes 24 2 John 1 2 minutes 25 3 John 1 2 minutes 26 Jude 1 4 minutes 27 Revelation 22 1 hour 15 minutes Berean Digest Walking Thru the Bible Tavares D. Mathews Matthew Author: Matthew Date: AD 50-60 Audience: Jewish Christians in Palestine Chapters: 28 Theme: Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), King of the Jews People: Joseph, Mary (mother of Jesus), Wise men (magi), Herod the Great, John the Baptizer, Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Matthew, Herod Antipas, Herodias, Caiaphas, Mary of Bethany, Pilate, Barabbas, Simon of Cyrene, Judas Iscariot, Mary Magdalene, Joseph of Arimathea Places: Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Egypt, Nazareth, Judean wilderness, Jordan River, Capernaum, Sea of Galilee, Decapolis, Gadarenes, Chorazin, Bethsaida, Tyre, Sidon, Caesarea Philippi, Jericho, Bethany, Bethphage, Gethsemane, Cyrene, Golgotha, Arimathea.
    [Show full text]
  • Acts (ALL Handouts)
    Acts Empowered to Witness Outline & Timeline (AD 32-70) Theme Scripture Yr Events Government ) ) 4 Acts 1 32-33 Jesus spent 40 days with disciples; then ascended (1:3,9) 9 1 Waiting in Jerusalem 3 36) -3 Disciples replace Judas with Matthias (1:15-26) C (6- 37) 4B 2 Empowered in Jerusalem Acts 2-3 Holy Spirit poured out; Peter speaks; 3000 converted (2) (26- Peter heals a man; preaches repentance (3) lilee a Peter & John arrested & released (4) (14- Acts 4-7 turea ( 3 Witnessing in Jerusalem s Judea G Ananias & Sapphira punished (5:1-11) u i of r of t of I Apostles imprisoned; released by an angel (5:17-20) t e 7 servants selected to help Hellenistic widows (6:1-6) b Te Proc II, Te Stephen arrested and stoned as Saul watches (7:54-60) Ti p i l pas, Saul sought out Christians to punish (8:1-3) i Acts 8-9 hi 4 Going to Judea & Samaria t P Philip taught a sorcerer and a royal eunuch (8:5-40) Pilate, d Saul's conversion; helped by Ananias (9:3-19) An d ius ero Emperor 33 Saul went to Arabia & Damascus (9:20-25; Gal 1:17) ro H 35-36 Saul in Jerusalem after 3yrs, with Barnabas (9:26-29) Pont He Saul went to Caesarea, Syria, & Tarsus (9:30; Gal 1:21) Peter healed Aeneas & Tabitha (9:32-42) ula Acts 10-12 Peter learned that God accepts Cornelius & Gentiles (10) 5 Going to the “Nations” alig Disciples spread North, teaching Jews & Gentiles (11:19-21) C d 43 Saul went to Antioch for 1 yr with Barnabas (11:26) I o Saul & Barnabas take contribution to Jerusalem (11:30) Saul went to Antioch with Barnabas & John Mark (12:25) Her 44 Herod murdered James
    [Show full text]
  • Act 19:1 and It Came About That While Apollos Was at Corinth, Paul Having
    Act 19:1 And it came about that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found some disciples, Paul’s third missionary journey Act 19:2 and he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." (3) And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism." (4) And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus." (5) And when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Like Apollos these men knew only the baptism of John (Acts 18.25) Act 10:47 "Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?“ Act 22:16 'And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.' Act 8:18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money, Act 1:19 And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) (20) "For it is written in the book of Psalms, 'LET HIS HOMESTEAD BE MADE DESOLATE, AND LET NO MAN DWELL IN IT'; and, 'HIS OFFICE LET ANOTHER MAN TAKE.' (21) "It is therefore necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us-- (22) beginning with the baptism of John, until the day that He was taken up from us--one of these should become a witness with us of His resurrection." 2Co 12:12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.
    [Show full text]
  • Bible Reading Plan
    [TYPE THE COMPANY NAME] ILLUMINE OUR HEARTS! Bible Reading Plan A 12‐month Bible reading plan based on the Septuagint version of the Old Testament. The plan provides general guidance, helpful articles and a detailed schedule of readings. Room is left at the end of this booklet to make notes. To the Parishioners of St. Seraphim Church, We all know about the countless exhortations from the Holy Fathers, pastors, and books, which tell us how important it is for us to read the Scriptures frequently and consistently. St. Paul writes to St. Timothy that the Scriptures are "inspired by God and are profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness so that the person of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." All of us know that we should be reading the Bible every day. Many of you have confided to me that you feel you should be reading more, but find it hard to do so. So, we read, but we stumble in our task and may eventually neglect the reading. There are many reasons why we stumble. Some of us don't know what exactly to read, and get confused about that, or we find that we simply do not understand what it is that the Bible is saying. Bogged down, we forget that much of the Bible is direct and simple. Yes, we know that there are many levels of meaning in the Bible (historical, allegorical, typological, etc.)—but we run into chapters and passages that seem to make no sense at all to us—it may seem confusing.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction & Commentary on 2 and 3 John
    Introduction & Commentary on 2 and 3 John Tim Jennings I. Introductory Matters for 2 and 3 John A. John’s Letters Form a Complementary Message. The letter of 1 John clearly explains the necessity of truth and love as the test of Christian fellowship. Stott describes this as “the doctrinal test” and the “social test” (Epistles of John. Tyndale. Stott. p. 55). The letters of 2 and 3 John apply these two principles to the practical life of the local church. 1. 2 John deals with the truth being compromised. The “elect lady,” seeks to express loving hospitality and is unwittingly supporting deceivers who are corrupting the truth about Christ. She has love, but is in danger of compromising the truth. 2. 3 John deals with love being compromised. Diotrephes is nowhere called a false teacher, but he is a false lover. His love is self-love, not brotherly love. If Gaius follows his example he is in danger of compromising love. 1 John The Need for Truth Applied to the church Truth must not be 2 John 1 John 2:4,21-24; 3:7,22-24; 4:1- corrupted by false love. 3, 6; 5:1-3, 10, 13, 20 The Need for Love Applied to the church Love must not be 3 John 1 John 2:10; 3:10, 14, 16-21; 4:7- corrupted by self-love. 8, 11-12, 20-21; 5:16 3. These short letters of 2 and 3 John form a powerful testimony to the church of the pressing need to abide in the truth and express genuine love for the brethren.
    [Show full text]
  • Fights & Schisms
    Fights & Schisms 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 1 Corinthians 1:10-12 “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, ‘I follow Paul,’ or ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Cephas,’ or ‘I follow …’” 1 Corinthians 1:12-17 “‘Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not …” 1 Corinthians 1:17 “with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” (ESV) The Players/Factions ‘Each one of you says, ‘I follow Paul,’ or ‘I follow Apollos,’ or ‘I follow Cephas,’ or I follow Christ.’ Is Christ divided?” (1:12) The Paul Group • Converted under the preaching of Paul himself. • Charter members of the Corinthian church. • Paul was called the missionary to the Gentiles and these are likely Gentile converts. • Paul did not speak with “eloquent” wisdom.
    [Show full text]
  • Leadership Characteristics of the Apostle Paul That Can Provide Model to Today's Bbfk Pastors
    Guillermin Library Liberty University Lynchbu!1l, VA 24502 LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL THAT CAN PROVIDE MODEL TO TODAY'S BBFK PASTORS A Thesis Project Submitted to Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF MINISTRY By Jae Kee Lee Lynchburg Virginia August, 2003 LIBERTY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY DOCTOR OF MINISTRY THESIS PROJECT APPROVAL SHEET GRADE ~lktJ~1 MENTOR . READER 11 ABSTRACT LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL THAT CAN PROVIDE MODEL TO TODAY'S BBFK PASTORS Jae Kee Lee Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary Mentor: Dr. Frank Schmitt The purpose of this project is to understand Paul's leadership characteristics and to apply those characteristics to today's Korean Baptist Bible Fellowship pastors. The project carefully examines Paul's twelve characteristics pertaining to self, interpersonal aspect, spiritual aspect, and functional competency from his writings and his acts reported by Luke. It also analyzes and evaluates current situation ofthe BBFK pastors' leadership based on surveys and interviews. Five practical strategies for the development of the leadership quality of the BBFK pastors are offered. Those strategies will help the pastors demonstrate such leadership characteristics more fully which were found in the apostle Paul. Abstract length: 101 words. III To My Pastor and the Leader of the Korean Baptist Bible Fellowship Dr. Daniel Wooseang Kim IV TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction
    INTRODUCTION 1. The city of Corinth The city of Corinth, located in modern-day Greece, was situated at the base of the Acrocorinth, a summit that is nearly 2,000 ft (609 m) high. The city was strategically located, for it sat on the narrow strip of land between the Peloponnesus and the remainder of Greece. It was very near two ports which it controlled: Cenchreae to the east on the Saronic gulf (about 2 miles or 3 km) and Lechaeum to the north on the Corinthian gulf (about 6 miles or 10 km – Strabo, Geogr. 8.6.22). The Roman historian Strabo wrote, Corinth is called ‘wealthy’ because of its commerce, since it is situated on the Isthmus and is master of two harbours, of which the one leads straight to Asia, and the other to Italy; and it makes easy the exchange of merchandise from both countries that are so far distant from each other (Geogr. 8.6.20). Merchants often preferred taking the land route across the isthmus instead of testing the mercurial winds of Cape Maleae of the 2 1 corinthians Peloponnesus (Strabo, Geogr. 8.6.20). A 4-mile track cut out of the rock made it possible to transmit goods and cargo. For our purposes it is important to recognize that the city was Roman. The significance of the Roman character of the city surfaces in the discussion of head-coverings (11:2–16) and of dining practices at the Lord’s Supper (11:17–34). The Greek city was destroyed by Rome in 146 bc as the leading city of the Achaean league.
    [Show full text]
  • Motivation for the Sharing of Material Possessions in Acts, Philo's De Vita Contemplativa and the Didache: a Comparative Study
    Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 2019 Motivation for the Sharing of Material Possessions in Acts, Philo's De Vita Contemplativa and the Didache: A Comparative Study Lena V. Toews Andrews University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Biblical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Toews, Lena V., "Motivation for the Sharing of Material Possessions in Acts, Philo's De Vita Contemplativa and the Didache: A Comparative Study" (2019). Dissertations. 1692. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/1692 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ABSTRACT MOTIVATIONS FOR THE SHARING OF MATERIAL POSSESSIONS IN ACTS, PHILO’S DE VITA CONTEMPLATIVA AND THE DIDACHE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY by Lena V. Toews Adviser: Robert Johnston ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University SeventH-day Adventist Theological SeMinary Title: MOTIVATIONS FOR THE SHARING OF MATERIAL POSSESSIONS IN ACTS, PHILO’S DE VITA CONTEMPLATIVA AND THE DIDACHE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY Name of researcher: Lena V. Toews NaMe and degree of faculty adviser: Robert Johnston, Ph.D. Date completed: July 2019 Luke, in the book of Acts, depicts the sharing of possessions as a practice in the JerusaleM comMunity of the first century. Several pericopes, occurring priMarily in the first part of the book of Acts, eMbody the idea of shared property and seeM to have iMportant parallels to other sources of the tiMe, including the Jewish author Philo’s work De vita contemplativa, where he describes a group he calls, “Therapeutae,” and in the Jewish Christian document Didache.
    [Show full text]